What if Your Tenant is Doing Drugs?

Christopher is no newbie landlord. He has bought and rehabbed several properties in his city, and is running his investment material goods business full time. His tenants are a mix of couples, families, and singles from every income level and diverse backgrounds. He’s had his share of problem tenants, but the only real problems he’s had to face are late rent payments.

Until a few months ago. Christopher surprised a tenant—although completely unintentionally—and learned signs of drug use in his material goods. Here’s what happened: while doing some routine maintenance at Apartment #1 of a duplex, he realized he needed to shut off the water main. Sorry to say, the main fed both living units. So Christopher knocked on the door of Apartment #2 to see if anyone was home, and to let them know the water would be off for a few summary.

When his tenant opened the door, she appeared surprised at seeing Christopher; she quickly stepped out and closed the door behind her. While Christopher maintained his tenant’s privacy by not looking into the apartment, he couldn’t help but see the odor wafting out the door and into his nostrils! It was certainly marijuana.

Christopher informed the tenant of the impending water shut off and left, feeling conflicted about how to handle the situation. But he soon made a choice.

If you were the landlord what would you do?

A. Nothing. Marijuana should be legal.
B. Nothing. If the tenant is not hurting anyone, it’s none of my business.
C. Have a have a discussion with the tenant. Let her know that illegal drugs are not tolerated on my material goods and give her written warning that the next time it happens, I will start exile proceedings.
D. Start exile proceedings immediately. Illegal drug use harms all my tenants and the community and could make me accountable for any related material goods hurt or private injury.

Christopher chose door D. Backed by a solid rental agreement that clearly states illegal drugs are not allowable on his material goods, Christopher did what he always did when it came to usage tenant issues: he enforced the terms of the lease, as agreed to by the tenant.

Christopher did not want to evict this tenant. He had no prior issues with her, and she paid her rent on time. But he strongly believes in treating all tenants equally and enforcing his lease and tenant rules honestly. He felt he had no choice other than to evict this lease-contravention tenant.

The outcome of this tale? While evicting tenantsis never pleasant, Christopher learned he did it just in time to prevent the occupants of Apartment #1 from moving away. Turns out they had noticed marijuana odors from the apartment next door for months and no longer wanted their kids subjected to it. When they learned their neighbor had been evicted, they thanked Christopher for keeping of the duplex drug-emancipated and enforcing the lease.